SAN DIEGO — A team of marine biologists exploring the remote islands off Mexico’s Pacific Coast made an exciting discovery: a new species of fish previously unknown to science.
The new species Tailspot Wrasse is also known as Halichoeres Sanchezi in honor of marine scientist Carlos Armando Sanchez, who discovered the first specimen. The Tailspot Wrasse has vibrant colors, a distinctive tail spot and inhabits shallow coral reef environments.
"It's very exciting and it's really nice to finally see this, this coming out and being able to tell people about it because you kind of need to keep these things a little under wraps," said Ben Frable of UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, who was one of the scientists on the expedition.
Frable said they encountered the fish on the last day of the trip after having gone around all of the islands.
He also said it hasn't been found any place else on Earth.
This newly discovered fish species exhibits sequential hermaphroditism, meaning it has the capability to transition from a female to a male during its lifecycle," Frable said.
Frable says this rare and significant milestone underscores the importance of ongoing exploration.
"To get a better grasp on the true diversity of life on this planet," said Frable.
WATCH RELATED: New California law makes it illegal to fish for Great White Sharks
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET CBS 8:
ADD THE CBS8+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE Roku | Amazon Fire